She was also one of a small group of botanical illustrators who worked for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the early 20th century.

Lower, a decorated Union Army American Civil War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient.

[1] She was one of a select cohort of botanical illustrators working for the USDA at this time, among whom were also Deborah Griscom Passmore, Ellen Isham Schutt, Royal Charles Steadman, and Amanda Newton.

These paintings were exhibited throughout the United States, won numerous awards, and are currently in the permanent collection at the University of California at Riverside.

Her subjects included everything from Death Valley and coastal scenes to the Spanish missions and San Francisco cityscapes.

She maintained her close ties with other California Scene painters such as Sheets, Rex Brandt, Milford Zornes, Emil Kosa, Jr. and Phil Paradise.